Head of R&D Portfolio & Project Management

Illumina; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 205,000 - 308,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Genomics sequencing access

Family planning benefits

Health/dental/vision coverage

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Employee Resource Groups

Job summary

Illumina is seeking a Head of R&D Portfolio & PMO to drive execution excellence across a complex R&D portfolio in the United States. You will design, deploy, and continuously improve PMO standards, governance, and tools, while translating priorities into executable plans and delivery insights.

The role partners with Strategy & Portfolio, Product Management, and business leaders to optimize trade-offs, sequencing, and risk management.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 20 years of related experience, with 12+ years of management experience.
• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Business, or related field; MBA or PhD preferred.
• Demonstrated success building PMO capabilities, strengthening delivery performance, and developing PMO talent.
• Experience running development programs that include different product types: instruments, assays, regulated products, and software.
• Advanced understanding of stage-gate product development process and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D PMO to ensure execution rigor, predictable delivery, and operational discipline across a complex R&D portfolio.
• Ensure initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and to defined quality standards, with strong risk and dependency management.
• Own and continuously improve PMO standards, methodologies, governance and tools, including fit-for-purpose product development and delivery frameworks.
• Integrate AI into PMO processes to increase overall project delivery efficiency.
• Enable effective portfolio governance in partnership with R&D Strategy and Portfolio Operations & Insights, Corporate Strategy, Product Management, and business group leaders.
• Operationalize portfolio priorities into executable programs, roadmaps, and capacity-informed plans.
• Provide execution-based insights to inform portfolio trade-offs, sequencing, and governance decisions.
• Deliver clear, consistent execution reporting, dashboards, and metrics to R&D leadership and cross-functional leadership.
• Serve as trusted execution partner to senior executives and cross-functional leaders, in a complex matrixed environment.
• Drive cross-R&D alignment and collaboration to manage interdependencies and accelerate delivery.
• Champion transparency and accountability through effective reporting and insights.
• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier PMO and R&D talent.
• Coach and mentor PM talent to strengthen core competencies and career progression.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive culture focused on innovation, adaptability, and measurable outcomes.

Skills

PMO leadership

Portfolio governance

Execution excellence

Data-driven decisions

Change leadership

Global mindset

Stakeholder mgmt

Cross-functional collab

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree (MBA/PhD) preferred

PMP or similar certification preferred

Job description

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life‑changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

The Head of R&D Portfolio & Project Management Office (PMO) is accountable for execution excellence across a complex and evolving R&D portfolio. Reporting into the Senior Director of R&D Strategy & Portfolio, this role leads and advances best‑in‑class portfolio, program, and project management capabilities to enable disciplined delivery, predictable outcomes, and transparent execution across R&D. This leader owns the design, deployment, and continuous improvement of scalable PMO practices, including delivery standards, governance models, and enabling tools. In close partnership with R&D Strategy & Portfolio, the role translates portfolio priorities into integrated execution plans, sequencing, and delivery insights that support effective trade‑offs and decision‑making. This role also builds and sustains strong PMO talent to support increasingly complex, cross‑functional R&D initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D PMO to ensure execution rigor, predictable delivery, and operational discipline across a complex R&D portfolio
• Ensure initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and to defined quality standards, with strong risk and dependency management
• Own and continuously improve PMO standards, methodologies, governance and tools, including fit-for-purpose product development and delivery frameworks
• Integrate AI into PMO processes to increase overall project delivery efficiency
• Enable effective portfolio governance in partnership with R&D Strategy and Portfolio Operations & Insights, Corporate Strategy, Product Management, and business group leaders
• Operationalize portfolio priorities into executable programs, roadmaps, and capacity-informed plans
• Provide execution-based insights to inform portfolio trade-offs, sequencing, and governance decisions
• Deliver clear, consistent execution reporting, dashboards, and metrics to R&D leadership and cross-functional leadership
• Serve as trusted execution partner to senior executives and cross-functional leaders, in a complex matrixed environment
• Drive cross-R&D alignment and collaboration to manage interdependencies and accelerate delivery
• Champion transparency and accountability through effective reporting and insights
• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier PMO and R&D talent
• Coach and mentor PM talent to strengthen core competencies and career progression
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive culture focused on innovation, adaptability, and measurable outcomes

Core Competencies

• Execution excellence: deep expertise in driving delivery rigor across complex, cross-functional portfolios
• PMO leadership: proven ability to design, scale, and sustain PMO operating models, standards, and tools
• Data-driven decision making: leverage analytics and insights to inform execution and portfolio decisions
• Change leadership: effectively lead adoption of new ways of working with minimal disruption
• Global mindset: operates effectively across geographies, cultures, and matrixed organizations

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 20 years of related experience, with 12+ years of Management experience.
• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Business, or related field; MBA or PhD preferred.
• Demonstrated success building PMO capabilities, strengthening delivery performance, and developing PMO talent
• Experience running development programs that include different product types: instruments, assays, regulated products, and software
• Advanced understanding of stage-gate product development process and risk management
• Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills effective in matrixed organizations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across all levels of the organization
• Positive change agent – experience leading effective change management practices
• PMP or similar certification preferred

#LI-HYBRID

The estimated base salary range for the Head of R&D Portfolio & Project Management role based in the United States of America is: $205,100 - $307,700. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long-term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package.

• We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.

We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race.

We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information.

Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf.

The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The potential of genomics to change the world is unparalleled. At Illumina, we are leading the way. Our technology empowers researchers and clinicians globally to improve cancer treatments, change the course of diseases, protect the environment, and fight food insecurity. We are made up of dedicated professionals, all‑in on creating a better world – and we need every skill set on our path to making genomics useful for all. Learn more about life at Illumina.